Cell - 8 September 2016

Theory

Polar Positioning of Phase-Separated Liquid

Compartments in Cells Regulated by an mRNA

Competition Mechanism

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

d The protein PGL-3 can phase separate into P-granule-like

droplets in vitro

d Assembly of PGL-3 droplets at physiological concentration

requires mRNA binding to PGL-3

d MEX-5 inhibits mRNA-dependent droplet assembly by

competing with PGL-3 for binding mRNA

d Competition among MEX-5 and PGL-3 for mRNA can

account for P granule segregation in vivo

Authors

Shambaditya Saha, Christoph A. Weber,

Marco Nousch, ..., Christian R. Eckmann,

Frank Ju ̈licher, Anthony A. Hyman

Correspondence

[email protected] (F.J.),

[email protected] (A.A.H.)

In Brief

Asymmetric positioning of cellular

compartments formed by phase

separation can be driven by competition

between two mRNA binding proteins, one

of which forms a spatial concentration

gradient.

Saha et al., 2016, Cell 166 , 1572–1584

September 8, 2016ª2016 Elsevier Inc.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2016.08.006